kiewicz



" Feb. 28, 1928. v 1,660,755

J. KIEWICZ wonx CLAMP FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Fig.1.

lnvenTor. John Kiew icg b a WJKW ATTys.

Feb.- 28, 1928. 1,660,755

J. KIEWICZ WORK CLAMP FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4..

I4 InvenTor. John Kiewicg l /udwzw ATTys.

Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN KIEWICZ, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO THE REECE BUTTON HOLE rater-5e MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CGREPURA'IIGN 0F MAINE.

WORK CLAMP FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed. December 7, 1925. Serial No. 73,705.

This invention relates to work clamps for sewing machines and particularly to ,work clamps for usewith sewing machines of the so-called tacker type, that is, sewing machines which are designed to insert short reinforcing seams in garments, such for instance as the bar at the end of a buttonhole in a garment it frequently happens that the location of the place to be reinforced is such that in order to arrange the garment in proper position to receive the reinforcing seam it is necessary to place a considerable amount of cloth in the rear of the sewing point. The work clamp which forms the basis of the present invention is designed to provide sufficient room for this purpose.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally work clamps in various particulars all as will be more fully hereinfater described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein I have shown a selected embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a sewing machine having my improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the work clamp;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 8-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the work clamps.

In Fig. 1 I have shown at 1 a portion of the frame of a sewing machine, said frame having the overhanging arm 2 in the end of which is mounted for vertical reciprocation, the usual needle bar 3 carrying the upper needle i. The frame 1 also is provided with a laterally-extending work-supporting arm 5 on which the work 6 is supported.

The sewing machine herein illustrated is similar to that shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 582%, filed September 24th, 1925, to which reference maybe made.

During the sewing operation the work 6 is clamped between an under work-clamping member 7 and upper work-clamping members 8. These upper and under work-clamping members are mounted on and carried by a rigid frame or support indicated generally at 9. Said support is formed with a foot or base portion 10 which overlies the arm 5 and to which the under workclamping member is secured and it is also formed with the vertically-rising standard 11 having the forwardly-extending portion 12. The upper work clamp 8 is supported by the lip-standing portion 11 of the frame, as will be presently described.

The frame or support 9 as a wholeis pivotally mounted to the arm 5 as shown at 13 so as to permit the work clamps to have the vibrating motion necessary to form the tacking stitches. v

The upper work clamp 8 comprises two members 1% and 15, each having a horizontal clamping foot 16 which rests on the work, a Vertical portion 17 and a rearwardly-extending portion 18. Eaclrsection or part of the upper work clamp 8 is carried by a lever 19, the forward end of which is secured to the portion 18 of the work clamp section and which extends rearwardly to the rear end of the frame and the rear end of which is bent downwardly as shown'at 20. The downwardlybent rear end of each arm 19 is pivotally connected to the rip-standing portion 11 of the frame as shown at 21. The 7 the works clamps andthe up-standing .por-

tion 11 of the supporting frame and between the base member 10 and the arms 19 in which to receive a portion of the garment lIl'WlllCll the tack or reinforcing seam is to be sewed.

Each arm 19 is acted on by a spring which operates to hold the corresponding clamp member yieldingly against the work. These springs are indicated at 23, each spring being in the form of a U spring and having one end bearing against the upper side of the arm 1.9 and the other end in engagement with the under side of a projection 24 carried at the end of the forwardly-extending portion 12 of the frame. A guide is also provided for guiding the arms 19 in their the clamps by raising the upper work clamp 8. For this purpose I have provided a lever 27 which is pivoted centrally at '28 on the under side of the overhanging arm 2, the rear end of the lever having a link 29 connected thereto which leads to a suitable treadle, The front end of the lever has pivotally secured thereto a lifting member 80 which has a general inverted T shape, the shank of the member being received between the arms 19- and the lower end of the mem her being formed with lateral extensions 31 which are situated underneath the arms 19.

When the treadle is depressed thereby pulling the rear end of the lever 27 downwardly the resultant upward movement of the front end of said lever will bring the projections 31 against the under side of the arms 19 and will thereby raise said arms as shown by dotted lines Fig. 1. This will elevate the upper work clamp 8 so as to permit the work to be either placed in the clamps or removed therefrom.

The work clamp is simple in construction and yet it affords ample, room to accommodate a large amount of material thus making it easy for the operator to manipulate the garment for the insertion of the reinforcing seams.

I claim:

1. In a'sewing machine, the combination with a frame having a work-supporting pore tion, of a work-clampsupporting member provided with a base portion secured to the work-supporting portion of the frame and. also provided with an upstanding portion which is provided with a forward extension, 9. lower work clamp secured to the forward end of the base portion, arms pivoted to said upstanding portion and extending forwardly beyond the forward extension, upper clamp ing members carried by the forward end of said arms and springs carried by said forward extension and acting against the arms to hold the upper clamping members yieldin ly against the work. 7 t5 In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame having a work-supporting portion, of a work-clampsupporting member provided with a base portion secured to the work-snpporting portion of the frame and also provided with an up-standing portion, a lower work clamp secured to the forward end of the base portion, horizontally-extending arms each having its rear end bent downwardly and pivoted to the upstanding por- 65 tion of the supporting frame, and upper work clamps carried by the forward end of said arms. V

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame having a work-supporting portion. and an overhanging arm, of a work clamp-supporting frame presenting a base portion resting on and secured to the worksupporting portion of the frame and also having an upstanding portion, a lower work 7 clamp secured to the front end of the base portion, horizontal arms pivotally secured to the rip-standing portion of the work clamp support, upper work clamp members secured to the forwart end of said arms, a manuallycont-rolled lever pivoted to the under side of the ovenhan ing arm of the frame, and a connection between said lever and said arms whereby the work clamps may be opened by rocking the lever.

In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame ha a worh-snpporting iortion and oreirlr g in a work clampsupporting f no preset a base portion. res

:2 on and secured to the worlr- 90 f r .1: i ilOitlOIl or the iranie also supporting havin all upstandin portion, a lower work cla secured to the ont en" a he 'zontal snppc l 1 L m? v. V to the toward. end ct said arms, a 1

arm of the j 'i .L 1 red io tne 3 andhavnig'; e is, where y when the the owl 1p will be ope. -11.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN KIEWIUZ. 

